HOUSTON, Mar 11, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Patients suffering from advanced congestive heart failure exhibited significantly improved heart function after supplementing with ubiquinol, according to a recent clinical trial. Ubiquinol, only available in supplement form since late 2006, is the active antioxidant form of Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10). CoQ10, a vitamin-like substance found in every cell in the body, plays a vital role in cellular energy production and protects cells from free radical damage.

In the first clinical trial evaluating ubiquinol effects on late-stage congestive heart failure, cardiologist Peter Langsjoen found that critically ill patients who supplemented with ubiquinol for just three months experienced a 24 to 50 percent increase in their hearts' ability to pump blood. In some cases, patients' plasma levels of CoQ10, which are key to overall heart health, more than tripled. At the start of the study, each of the patients evaluated had a life expectancy of less than six months. However, all demonstrated significantly improved heart function by the trial's end, and survived past initial expectations.

"The effects of ubiquinol on late-stage heart failure patients resulted in striking improvements beyond anything I've seen in 25 years of cardiology practice," said Dr. Langsjoen, who conducted the research in Tyler, Texas. "It is my strong feeling that this ubiquinol product is a major breakthrough."

Scientists at Kaneka Corporation, the world's largest manufacturer of CoQ10, developed the method to produce ubiquinol, commercially available as KanekaQH(TM), for supplemental use. Because the reduced ubiquinol reverts back to CoQ10 when exposed to air and light, the process of stabilizing the nutrient outside of the body took more than a decade to test and perfect before it was launched a little more than a year ago.

"Over the last several years, our team of scientists have documented that KanekaQH can be several times more absorbable than CoQ10, but to see that higher bioavailability translate into such staggering improvements in these patients' lives is particularly gratifying," said Dr. Robert Barry of Kaneka Nutrients, L.P., who recently released a book entitled The Power of KanekaQH(TM) (Ubiquinol): The Key to Energy, Vitality and a Healthy Heart in which he documents some of the most intriguing research to date on CoQ10 and ubiquinol in regards to aging and heart health.

The oxidized form of CoQ10, ubiquinone, was first used as a dietary supplement for cardiac patients in Japan 40 years ago. It has since gained popularity worldwide for the many health and condition-specific benefits identified in the thousands of studies conducted since its discovery in 1957.

Two forms of CoQ10: Ubiquinone and Ubiquinol

Both ubiquinone and ubiquinol are essential to generating cellular energy and sustaining life; however, the reduced form, ubiquinol, is responsible for the powerful antioxidant benefits associated with CoQ10. More than 90 percent of the CoQ10 found in a healthy person's plasma is in its reduced ubiquinol form.

For the past 40 years, only ubiquinone was available as a supplement. KanekaQH(TM), the world's only supplemental ubiquinol, has only been available for the past year. The ingredient, manufactured exclusively by Kaneka, is currently available in more than 30 consumer supplements and is the subject of a number of new trials expected to begin in 2008.

"Cardiovascular patients, those fighting age-related diseases and even healthy people over the age of 40 have a critical need to optimize plasma CoQ10 levels within their bodies," explained Dr. Barry. "Because it's so much better absorbed by the body, KanekaQH(TM) can raise CoQ10 levels more effectively and, as we're seeing from Dr. Langsjoen's study, can have tremendous health impact on those suffering from debilitating diseases."

An abstract of Dr. Langsjoen's supplemental ubiquinol study is available at www.kanekaqh.com/clinicaltrials. Full results of the study are expected to be published in a major scientific journal in 2008.